Career comparison
Farm Labor Contractor vs. Farmworker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Farm labor contractors earn more at the median ($58,460 vs. $35,660), while farmworkers usually get to work faster (Days to weeks of training). Farm labor contractors recruit and manage seasonal farm crews for growers. Farmworkers plant, tend and harvest crops in fields, orchards, nurseries and greenhouses.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Farm Labor Contractor | Farmworker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,460 ($28.11/hr) | $35,660 ($17.15/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,930 – $84,050 | $32,900 – $45,690 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | -2.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 72,500 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Years of farm work experience | Days to weeks |
| Key credential | DOL farm labor contractor registration | Worker Protection Standard training |
| Work setting | Contractors work in fields, offices and vehicles.. | Farmworkers work outdoors in fields and orchards, or in greenhouses and nurseries, often in heat.. |
What each job does
Farm Labor Contractor
- Recruit workers
- Schedule crews
- Arrange transportation
- Arrange housing
- Handle payroll
Farmworker
- Plant seeds and transplants
- Weed and cultivate crops
- Irrigate fields and greenhouses
- Prune and train plants
- Harvest crops
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors and in-demand. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose farm labor contractor if…
- I know farm work
- I can lead crews
- I follow rules carefully
Choose farmworker if…
- I like working outdoors
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I want to start right away
Still torn? Take the Farm Labor Contractor fit quiz and the Farmworker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, farm labor contractor or farmworker?
Farm Labor Contractors earn more at the median: $58,460 versus $35,660 for farmworkers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Farmworkers typically train faster (Days to weeks) than farm labor contractors (Years of farm work experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects farm labor contractors to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with -2.4% for farmworkers.